Perhaps you’ve taken the 2 Line, but don’t see the point in getting off at stations other than the Redmond Technology and Downtown Bellevue stations and are curious about the stations in between. Well, this is the article for you! BelRed is culturally rich, new and shiny in some places, and at the center of some urbanist gems. Don’t skip the Spring District and BelRed station areas. Explore them and find some hidden gems and witness as they are transformed into dense urban neighborhoods.
BelRed is arguably a nascent South Lake Union combined with its own spin on SoDo and the International District. The Spring District station area has a South Lake Union feel with tech offices emerging from a large light industrial presence. The BelRed station area has the more international feel, but you have to get past some of the historical industrial uses near the station first. When it comes to attractions, there’s more to see in the Spring District and more to eat around BelRed station.
Things to explore in the Spring District
The Spring District’s master-planned development and neighbors are rather interesting urbanist attractions. The master development has transformed half of a light industrial super block into a mixed-use neighborhood. There are new parks, amenities, streets, and pedestrian spaces to explore right outside of the light rail station.
One café in the Spring District is right next to the station, The Urbanist’s Ryan Packer has deemed Dote Coffee Bar a candidate for best café along the 2 Line. You can find all four Dote locations along the 2 line.
